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1033

Brass Model of a Sunderland Flying Boat

One of the most outstanding British seaplanes ever built, the Sunderland was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats throughout the Second World War. In addition to the RAF, the type was operated by other Allied military air wings, including the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), South African Air Force (SAAF), Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), French Navy, Norwegian Air Force, and the Portuguese Navy. During the conflict, were also heavily involved in Allied efforts to counter the threat posed by German U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. On 17 July 1940, a RAAF Sunderland (of No. 10 Squadron) performed the type's first unassisted U-boat kill. The heavily armed long-range naval patrol flying boat earned its German nickname ‘das fliegende Stachelschwein’ (the flying porcupine) not without good reason; One Sunderland was attacked by six German Ju-88’s in April 1940 when escorting ships during the Norwegian campaign. It was successful in shooting down one, damaging another and fighting off the rest. On another occasion in North Africa a Sunderland was attacked by four Curtiss Mohawk fighters from the French Vichy air force. The Sunderland was hit many times and some crew members were wounded but they still managed to shoot down two, damage another and return home safely. Other encounters with enemy aircraft meant that Arado Ar-196, Macchi MC.200, Bf-110 and more Ju-88’s were all claimed by Sunderland gun crews. When the war finished, it was not yet the end of the military operational life of the Sunderland. They were even used during the Korean War and were finally phased out in 1961.